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Track Windows settings

Extend the schema to live Windows master audio settings.

About 5 minutesTracking from Scratch 1.0.0
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What to expect#

Pinman uses the same schema and Capture model for live Windows settings. In this chapter, you'll track master Volume and Mute, capture a baseline, change both settings and then restore them. The same approach works for other device and runtime settings.

Schema authoring workflow

  1. Choose what mattersfirst tracked file
  2. Describe configurationsettings + labels
  3. Keep noise outMatching Rules
  4. Prove the schemacompare with baseline
  5. Extend beyond filesRegistry + Windows

Steps#

Add Windows master audio#

Master audio settings control the computer's overall volume and mute state. The values vary by machine, so capture what your computer reports rather than trying to match a screenshot.

  1. In Explore, find Windows Settings (winrt) → Sound → Master, scanning as needed.
  2. Track Volume with Track item…, leaving its read-only access unchanged.
  3. Track Mute the same way.
  4. On the Explore toolbar, select Refresh to apply and wait for the refresh to complete.

The settings appear beneath Windows Settings. Their locations are winrt:/Sound/Master/Volume and winrt:/Sound/Master/Mute; winrt: identifies a Windows runtime setting.

Tracked Windows master Volume and Mute

Capture the master audio baseline#

The schema now covers files, Registry state and Windows settings. Capture that configuration before changing the real machine.

  1. Create a Checkpoint titled Master audio baseline with Files + settings, Tracked only and Record only. Wait for it to complete.

Master audio baseline contains the selected application files and settings, the presence or absence of Pinman's startup value, and the computer's current Volume and Mute.

Change and compare master audio#

Master audio is live device state. Change it with the same Windows controls you normally use, then Refresh to compare it with the baseline.

  1. Note the Volume and Mute values captured in Master audio baseline.
  2. Use the keyboard or Windows system tray to change the master volume and toggle mute.
  3. In Explore, select Refresh.

Volume and Mute now show their new values against Master audio baseline.

Changed Volume and Mute against the master audio baseline

  1. Use the Windows controls to restore Volume and Mute to the values captured in Master audio baseline.
  2. In Explore, select Refresh.

Volume and Mute agree with Master audio baseline again.

What we did#

You extended the schema to live Windows settings, captured a baseline, then changed and restored both master audio values.

Where to go from here#

You built a schema from a blank project, chose a useful scope, brought different application formats into one readable view, kept noise out and proved the result against real changes.

That completes Tracking from Scratch. You can use the features covered here to build schemas for your own systems and applications.

To repeat this tutorial, run pinman tutorial install tracking (using --project with your project name if it differs). Reinstalling resets the tutorial work in that project.

Visit the Pinman documentation for more on schemas, Profiles and kits.